ProductsUModelUML Application Flow DiagramsUML Communication Diagrams

UML communication diagrams describe the messages transmitted between objects and imply associations between classes in your UModel® 2012 project.

Communication diagrams are similar to sequence diagrams, but provide an overview of the relationships between objects, rather than focusing on the order of messages between objects, as your software executes.

Communication diagrams have a free-form layout, so you can position objects to emphasize their relationships. Communication diagrams typically describe one instance, or a single path, of program execution.

UModel® 2012 makes it easy to begin your communication diagram. You can click the object lifeline in the communication diagram toolbar, or use the right-click menu to create a new object.

The object name is automatically selected, so you can simply type a new name.

Alternatively, if you want to create an object from an existing class, you can drag the class from the model tree into your communication diagram.

You might want to create all the objects involved in the interaction and position them logically before creating any messages. As you add message lines between objects, UModel® 2012 conveniently numbers the messages in the order they are created.

Buttons in the layout menu let you choose the line style you prefer.

Communication diagrams can help identify incomplete or incorrect logic. You can add a new message or edit a message sequence number and UModel® 2012 automatically renumbers all the other messages in order.

Creating Operations from Transitions

When you add a new transition to a lifeline that represents a class, you may assign a message name or use the operation pull-down list in the Properties helper window to assign an existing operation from the target class.

If you turn on Automatic Creation of Operations in the Communication Diagram toolbar, you can create a new operation in the target class by typing the new operation in the transition in your communication diagram.

Creating a Sequence Diagram from a Communication Diagram

When your communication diagram is complete, you might want to create a corresponding sequence diagram for a more time-oriented view, rather than a relationship-oriented consideration of the interactions. The UModel® 2012 right-click context menu lets you automatically create a new sequence diagram using the same objects and messages in your communication diagram.

The new sequence diagram is fully independent of the communication diagram, so you can edit and enhance it as you like.

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